Image processing apparatus and image processing method for a printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus for a printing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a recording position acquiring device for acquiring recording positions of a reference image printed by a reference print head and a target image printed by a target print head, a positional deviation amount calculating device for calculating a deviation amount due to a skew with respect to the recording positions of the reference image and the target image, and a positional deviation interpolation image converting device, when there is a remainder of the deviation amount and the predetermined intervals, for adding a weight based on the remainder, and adding a smaller weight than the weight to the reference image or the target image without a remainder and adjoining the reference image or the target image with the remainder, thereby converting the image into a width direction positional deviation interpolation image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an imageprocessing method for a printing apparatus having at least two printheads spaced from each other in a transport direction of a printingmedium. The image processing apparatus and image processing method areprovided for processing print data to be printed by the printingapparatus.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, as this type of apparatus there exists an inkjetprinting apparatus including a transport path for transporting webpaper, a printing unit disposed on the transport path for dispensing inkdroplets to the web paper to form images thereon, and an imageprocessing apparatus for outputting print data to the printing unit (seeJapanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-176868, for example). Inthis apparatus, the printing unit includes three print heads arranged atintervals in a transport direction of web paper.

In the inkjet printing apparatus of such construction, when the webpaper is transported along the transport path, the web paper may make askew. When printing is done in this condition, the positionalrelationship between ink droplets dispensed from an upstream print headand ink droplets dispensed from a downstream print head will produce apositional deviation (also called a misregister), which is a deviationfrom a positional relationship intended in image data. Then, the imageprocessing apparatus carries out a correction by shifting the image datain a width direction of the web paper according to an amount of skew,and outputs corrected image data to the printing unit. And the printingunit performs printing based on the corrected image data.

However, the conventional example having such construction has thefollowing problems.

The conventional apparatus carries out a shifting process according toan amount of skew on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis which is a recording limitof the printing unit. It is therefore impossible to perform a sufficientcorrection, depending on an amount of skew which does not make anintegral multiple of nozzle interval, thereby failing to fully inhibit apositional deviation. A failure to fully inhibit the positionaldeviation will cause a lowering of print quality. Thus, the inhibitingof the positional deviation is a serious issue.

A similar problem may arise from a cause different from the aboveskewing. That is, the above inkjet printing apparatus uses a rotaryencoder attached to a transport roller to detect a transport speed ofthe web paper, and adjusts the timing of dispensing ink dropletsaccording to the transport speed and a distance between the print heads.However, the transport roller may expand in the circumferentialdirection due to heat, for example. In such a state, the transportspeed, although constant, will be detected in error, resulting in apositional deviation in the transport direction. In this case also, asin the case of skew, the shifting process on the nozzle-by-nozzle basiswhich is the recording limit may prove insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been made having regard to the state of the art notedabove, and its object is to provide an image processing apparatus and animage processing method for a printing apparatus which can inhibit anapparent positional deviation through devised image processing.

To fulfill the above object, this invention provides the followingconstruction.

An image processing apparatus, according to this invention, for aprinting apparatus for printing on a printing medium with a printingunit including at least two print heads consisting of a reference printhead for providing a reference for printing, and a target print headdisposed as spaced from the reference print head in a transportdirection for printing in accordance with printing by the referenceprint head, each print head having a plurality of recording elementsarranged at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to thetransport direction of the printing medium, the image processingapparatus comprising a recording position acquiring device for acquiringrecording positions of a reference image printed by the reference printhead and a target image printed by the target print head; a positionaldeviation amount calculating device for calculating a deviation amountdue to a skew of the printing medium with respect to the recordingpositions of the reference image and the target image acquired by therecording position acquiring device; and a positional deviationinterpolation image converting device, when there is a remainder of thedeviation amount and the predetermined intervals, for adding a weightbased on the remainder to the reference image or the target image, andadding a smaller weight than said weight to the reference image or thetarget image without a remainder and adjoining the reference image orthe target image with the remainder, thereby converting the image into awidth direction positional deviation interpolation image shiftedaccording to the skew of the printing medium.

According to this invention, the positional deviation amount calculatingdevice calculates a deviation amount due to a skew of the printingmedium with respect to the recording positions of the reference imageand the target image acquired by the recording position acquiringdevice. The positional deviation interpolation image converting device,when there is a remainder from a division of the deviation amount by thepredetermined intervals, adds a weight based on the remainder to thereference image or the target image. Further, the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device adds a smaller weight than theweight to the reference image or the target image without a remainderand adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the skew of the printingmedium. Since a weighting is carried out according to the remainder tomake a positional deviation interpolation image, apparent positionaldeviations can fully be inhibited whatever the amount of skew. Of theimages with no remainder which essentially do not need to be shifted, animage adjoining an image to which weighting has been applied isconverted into a positional deviation interpolation image with a smallweighting. Consequently, boundaries are made inconspicuous, and alowering of print quality can be inhibited even when the positionaldeviation interpolation image is used.

In another aspect of this invention, there is provided an imageprocessing apparatus for a printing apparatus for printing on a printingmedium with a printing unit including at least two print headsconsisting of a reference print head for providing a reference forprinting, and a target print head disposed as spaced from the referenceprint head in a transport direction for printing in accordance withprinting by the reference print head, each print head having a pluralityof recording elements arranged at predetermined intervals in a directionperpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium and inthe transport direction of the printing medium, the image processingapparatus comprising a pulse signal outputting device for outputting apulse signal according to rotation of a transport roller rotatable withmovement of the recording medium; a recording position acquiring devicefor acquiring recording positions of a reference image printed by thereference print head and a target image printed by the target printhead; a positional deviation amount calculating device for calculating adeviation amount in the transport direction due to a variation of thepulse signal detected by the pulse signal outputting device with respectto the recording positions of the reference image and the target imageacquired by the recording position acquiring device; and a positionaldeviation interpolation image converting device, when there is aremainder of the deviation amount and the predetermined intervals in thetransport direction, for adding a weight based on the remainder to thereference image or the target image, and adding a smaller weight thansaid weight to the reference image or the target image without aremainder and adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the variation of the pulsesignal.

According to this invention, the positional deviation amount calculatingdevice calculates a deviation amount in the transport direction due to avariation of the pulse signal detected by the pulse signal outputtingdevice with respect to the recording positions of the reference imageand the target image acquired by the recording position acquiringdevice. The positional deviation interpolation image converting device,when there is a remainder from a division of the deviation amount by thepredetermined intervals, adds a weight based on the remainder to thereference image or the target image. Further, the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device adds a smaller weight than theweight to the reference image or the target image without a remainderand adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the variation of the pulsesignal. Since a weighting is carried out according to the remainder tomake a positional deviation interpolation image, apparent positionaldeviations can fully be inhibited whatever the deviation amount in thetransport direction. Of the images with no remainder which essentiallydo not need to be shifted, an image adjoining an image to whichweighting has been applied is converted into a positional deviationinterpolation image with a small weighting. Consequently, boundaries aremade inconspicuous, and a lowering of print quality can be inhibitedeven when the positional deviation interpolation image is used.

In this invention, it is preferred that the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device uses a Sinc window function whoseminimum value is minus and maximum value is 1 in an interval including apredetermined number of pixels of the reference image or the targetimage, divides an interval between the pixels of the reference image orthe target image by a predetermined number of divisions, and adds theweight and the small weight after further shifting a center of the Sincwindow function by a position of a minimum unit of the number ofdivisions from a position corresponding to the remainder.

The weighting and small weighting can be carried out relatively easilyby shifting the Sinc window function according to the remainder.

In this invention, it is preferred that the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device uses an exponential windowfunction whose minimum value is 0 and maximum value is less than 1 in aninterval including a predetermined number of pixels of the referenceimage or the target image, divides an interval between the pixels of thereference image or the target image by a predetermined number ofdivisions, and adds the weight and the small weight after placing acenter of the exponential window function in a position corresponding tothe remainder.

The weighting and small weighting can be carried out relatively easilyby shifting the exponential window function according to the remainder.Since the minimum value of the exponential window function is 0,excellent continuity with adjacent images is secured.

In this invention, it is preferred that the image processing apparatusfurther comprises a halftone dot processing device for carrying out ahalftone dot process according to shift amounts on the positionaldeviation interpolation image when outputting the positional deviationinterpolation image to the printing unit.

With the halftone dot processing device carrying out a halftone dotprocess on the positional deviation interpolation image, the pluralityof recording elements of the printing unit can print the positionaldeviation interpolation image.

In this invention, it is preferred that the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device does not convert line drawingareas of the reference image and the target image into positionaldeviation interpolation images.

Since the line drawing areas such as characters and a QR code(registered trademark) are not converted into positional deviationinterpolation images, outlines can remain clear. The line drawings cantherefore be recognized reliably.

In a further aspect of this invention, there is provided an imageprocessing method for a printing apparatus for printing on a printingmedium with a printing unit including at least two print headsconsisting of a reference print head for providing a reference forprinting, and a target print head disposed as spaced from the referenceprint head in a transport direction for printing in accordance withprinting by the reference print head, each print head having a pluralityof recording elements arranged at predetermined intervals in a directionperpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium, themethod comprising a recording position acquiring step for acquiringrecording positions of a reference image printed by the reference printhead and a target image printed by the target print head; a positionaldeviation amount calculating step for calculating a deviation amount dueto a skew of the printing medium with respect to the recording positionsof the reference image and the target image acquired in the recordingposition acquiring step; and a positional deviation interpolation imageconverting step, when there is a remainder of the deviation amount andthe predetermined intervals, for adding a weight based on the remainderto the reference image or the target image, and adding a smaller weightthan said weight to the reference image or the target image without aremainder and adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a width directionpositional deviation interpolation image shifted according to the skewof the printing medium.

According to this invention, the positional deviation amount calculatingstep calculates a deviation amount due to a skew of the printing mediumwith respect to the recording positions of the reference image and thetarget image acquired in the recording position acquiring step. Thepositional deviation interpolation image converting step, when there isa remainder from a division of the deviation amount by the predeterminedintervals, adds a weight based on the remainder to the reference imageor the target image. Further, the positional deviation interpolationimage converting step adds a smaller weight than the weight to thereference image or the target image without a remainder and adjoiningthe reference image or the target image with the remainder, therebyconverting the image into a positional deviation interpolation imageshifted according to the skew of the printing medium. Since a weightingis carried out according to the remainder to make a positional deviationinterpolation image, apparent positional deviations can fully beinhibited whatever the amount of skew. Of the images with no remainderwhich essentially do not need to be shifted, an image adjoining an imageto which weighting has been applied is converted into a positionaldeviation interpolation image with a small weighting. Consequently,boundaries are made inconspicuous, and a lowering of print quality canbe inhibited even when the positional deviation interpolation image isused.

In a still further aspect of this invention, there is provided an imageprocessing method for a printing apparatus for printing on a printingmedium with a printing unit including at least two print headsconsisting of a reference print head for providing a reference forprinting, and a target print head disposed as spaced from the referenceprint head in a transport direction for printing in accordance withprinting by the reference print head, each print head having a pluralityof recording elements arranged at predetermined intervals in a directionperpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium and inthe transport direction of the printing medium, the method comprising apulse signal detecting step for detecting a pulse signal according torotation of a transport roller rotatable with movement of the recordingmedium; a recording position acquiring step for acquiring recordingpositions of a reference image printed by the reference print head and atarget image printed by the target print head; a positional deviationamount calculating step for calculating a deviation amount due to avariation of the pulse signal detected in the pulse signal detectingstep with respect to the recording positions of the reference image andthe target image acquired in the recording position acquiring step; anda positional deviation interpolation image converting step, when thereis a remainder of the deviation amount and the predetermined intervalsin the transport direction, for adding a weight based on the remainderto the reference image or the target image, and adding a smaller weightthan said weight to the reference image or the target image without aremainder and adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the variation of the pulsesignal.

According to this invention, the positional deviation amount calculatingstep calculates a deviation amount in the transport direction due to avariation of the pulse signal detected in the pulse signal detectingstep with respect to the recording positions of the reference image andthe target image acquired in the recording position acquiring step. Thepositional deviation interpolation image converting step, when there isa remainder from a division of the deviation amount by the predeterminedintervals, adds a weight based on the remainder to the reference imageor the target image. Further, the positional deviation interpolationimage converting step adds a smaller weight than the weight to thereference image or the target image without a remainder and adjoiningthe reference image or the target image with the remainder, therebyconverting the image into a positional deviation interpolation imageshifted according to the variation of the pulse signal. Since aweighting is carried out according to the remainder to make a positionaldeviation interpolation image, apparent positional deviations can fullybe inhibited whatever the deviation amount in the transport direction.Of the images with no remainder which essentially do not need to beshifted, an image adjoining an image to which weighting has been appliedis converted into a positional deviation interpolation image with asmall weighting. Consequently, boundaries are made inconspicuous, and alowering of print quality can be inhibited even when the positionaldeviation interpolation image is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in thedrawings several forms which are presently preferred, it beingunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precisearrangement and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an entire inkjet printing systemaccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a positional relationshipbetween each print head and sensors;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a positional deviation in a widthdirection due to a skew:

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a printing process;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a weighting process with a Sincfunction;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a specific example of weightingprocess with the Sinc function;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing another specific example of weightingprocess with the Sinc function;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an image based on real data and aconverted positional deviation interpolation image;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a halftone dot process performed on a realdata image;

FIG. 10A is a schematic view showing the real data image and an imageafter the halftone dot process;

FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing a positional deviationinterpolation image resulting from a one-dot shifting of the real dataimage and an image after the halftone dot process;

FIG. 10C is a schematic view showing a positional deviationinterpolation image resulting from a half-dot shifting of the real dataimage and an image after the halftone dot process;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of positional deviation interpolationimages, in which FIG. 11A shows an embodiment of this invention, andFIG. 11B shows a reference example;

FIG. 12 shows examples of printing result, in which FIG. 12A shows thisembodiment, and FIG. 12B shows a reference example;

FIG. 13 is graphs showing variations of pixel values in images ofno-shift real data and in images of various shift amounts, in which FIG.13A shows this embodiment, FIG. 13B shows an example of exponentialfunction, and FIG. 13C shows a reference example;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating a weighting process with anexponential function;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a specific example of weightingprocess with the exponential function;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing another specific example ofweighting process with the exponential function;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating a weighting process with abicubic function;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing an example of printing real dataconsisting of four plates of CMYK;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of printing real dataincluding line drawing areas;

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a positional deviation in a transportdirection due to a rotary encoder; and

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing a printing process based on an amount ofdeviation in the transport direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an entire inkjet printing systemaccording to this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing apositional relationship between each print head and sensors.

The inkjet printing system according to this invention includes a paperfeeder 1, an inkjet printing apparatus 3 and a takeup roller 5.

The paper feeder 1 holds elongate web paper WP in a roll form to berotatable about a horizontal axis, and unwinds the web paper WP andfeeds it to the inkjet printing apparatus 3. The takeup roller 5 windsup the web paper WP printed by the inkjet printing apparatus 3 about ahorizontal axis. Regarding the side from which the web paper WP is fedas upstream and the side to which the web paper WP is discharged asdownstream, the paper feeder 1 is disposed upstream of the inkjetprinting apparatus 3 while the takeup roller 5 is disposed downstream ofthe inkjet printing apparatus 3.

The inkjet printing apparatus 3 includes a drive roller 7 disposed in anupstream position for taking in the web paper WP fed from the paperfeeder 1. The web paper WP unwound from the paper feeder 1 by the driveroller 7 is transported downstream along a plurality of transportrollers 9 toward the takeup roller 5. A drive roller 11 is disposedbetween the most downstream transport roller 9 and the takeup roller 5.This drive roller 11 feeds the web paper WP transported on the transportrollers 9 forward toward the takeup roller 5. Among the plurality oftransport rollers 9, a transport roller 9 disposed between the driveroller 7 and a printing unit 13 described hereinafter has a rotaryencoder 12 attached thereto. This rotary encoder 12 outputs a pulsesignal corresponding to a rotating speed of the transport roller 9.

The above inkjet printing apparatus 3 corresponds to the “printingapparatus” in this invention. The web paper WP corresponds to the“printing medium” and the “medium” in this invention. The rotary encoder12 corresponds to the “pulse signal outputting device” in thisinvention.

The inkjet printing apparatus 3 has the printing unit 13, a drying unit15 and an inspecting unit 17 arranged in the stated order from upstreambetween the drive roller 7 and drive roller 11. The drying unit 15 driesportions printed by the printing unit 13. The inspecting unit 17 checkswhether the printed portions have stains, omissions or other defects.

The printing unit 13 has a plurality of print heads 19 arranged alongthe transport direction of web paper WP. It is assumed that thisembodiment provides four print heads 19, for example. Each print head 19dispenses ink droplets toward the web paper WP.

In this embodiment, each print head 19 is called print head 19 a, printhead 19 b, print head 19 c or print head 19 d in order from upstream. Inthe following description, when the four print heads 19 need to beindividually distinguished, small letters of the alphabet are affixed tothe print head 19, but when it is not necessary to distinguish them,only the print head(s) 19 will be used.

The print heads 19 are arranged at predetermined intervals in thetransport direction of web paper WP. Each of the first print head 19 a,second print head 19 b, third print head 19 c and fourth print head 19 dincludes a nozzle portion 21 having a plurality of inkjet nozzles 20 fordispensing ink droplets.

These print heads 19 a-19 d dispense ink droplets of at least two colorsto be capable of multicolor printing on the web paper WP. For example,the print head 19 a is for black (K), the print head 19 b for cyan (C),the print head 19 c for magenta (M), and the print head 19 d for yellow(Y). Each nozzle portion 21 has a plurality of inkjet nozzles 20 also ina direction (the depth direction from the plane of FIG. 1) perpendicularto the transport direction of web paper WP as well as a plurality ofinkjet nozzles 20 arranged in the transport direction of web paper WP.In this embodiment, a plurality of inkjet nozzles 20 are arranged atpredetermined intervals L when seen in the transport direction of webpaper WP, and are arranged at the predetermined intervals L also whenseen in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of webpaper WP. Specifically, for example, each predetermined interval L=21μm, which enables printing at a resolution of 1200 dpi. Assuming, forexample, that a control target of positional deviation in prints isabout 35 μm, the deviation can be fully controlled within the controltarget if correction is made in units of about 5 μm corresponding toabout one fourth of the predetermined interval L.

The plurality of inkjet nozzles 20 noted above correspond to the“plurality of recording elements” in this invention.

A first sensor 23 is disposed upstream of the printing unit 13, and asecond sensor 25 downstream of the printing unit 13. These first sensor23 and second sensor 25 are arranged at an end in a width direction ofthe transport path of web paper WP for detecting positions in the widthdirection of a side end surface of the web paper WP. The first sensor 23and second sensor 25 detect skewing, and a degree of skew, of the sideend surface of the web paper WP relative to a reference line which is atransport line at the time of the web paper WP being transportednormally, and output signals corresponding to the degree of skew.

The inkjet printing apparatus 3 includes a controller 27. The controller27 has a CPU and memory not shown, and has an image processing unit 29.The controller 27 receives from an external computer (not shown) printdata which is data of images to be recorded on the web paper WP, andcontrols transportation of the web paper WP based on the print data.

The image processing unit 29 includes a recording position acquirer 31,a positional deviation amount calculator 33 a positional deviationinterpolation image converter 35, a weighting coefficient storage unit37 and a halftone dot processor 39.

The recording position acquirer 31 acquires a recording position of eachimage printed by each print head 19 based on the print data received bythe controller 27. The positional deviation amount calculator 33determines a degree of skew based on the signals from the first sensor23 and second sensor 25, and calculates an amount of deviation of therecording position of each image in each print head 19. The positionaldeviation interpolation image converter 35, when there is a remainderbetween a deviation amount and predetermined interval L, converts eachimage into a positional deviation interpolation image by shifting eachimage in the direction of skew by means of a weighting corresponding tothe remainder. Along with the above, the positional deviationinterpolation image converter 35, even when there is no remainderbetween a deviation amount and predetermined interval L, converts eachimage adjacent an image having a remainder between a deviation amountand predetermined interval L into a positional deviation interpolationimage by shifting each image in the direction of skew by means of asmaller weighting than the weighting corresponding to the remainderbetween a deviation amount and predetermined interval L.

The weighting coefficient storage unit 37 stores beforehand weightingcoefficients used when the positional deviation interpolation imageconverter 35 carries out conversions. The weighting coefficients arestored in a lookup table form, for example. The halftone dot processor39 performs a halftone dot process on positional deviation interpolationimages, and outputs each positional deviation interpolation image havingundergone the halftone dot process to each print head 19 for printing onthe web paper WP.

The image processing unit 29 determines occurrence of a skew based onthe outputs of the first sensor 23 and second sensor 25. When there isno remainder between a shift amount and predetermined interval L andwhen each image does not adjoin an image with a remainder, no conversionto a positional deviation interpolation image is done by the positionaldeviation interpolation image converter 35. In this case, each image isonly converted into a positional deviation image so that ink isdispensed from other inkjet nozzles 20 according to a deviation amount.

The above image processing unit 29 corresponds to the “image processingapparatus” in this invention. The recording position acquirer 31corresponds to the “recording position acquiring device” in thisinvention. The positional deviation amount calculator 33 corresponds tothe “positional deviation amount calculating device” in this invention.The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35 corresponds tothe “positional deviation interpolation image converting device” in thisinvention. The halftone dot processor 39 corresponds to the “halftonedot processing device” in this invention.

A positional deviation due to a skew will now be described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing apositional relationship of each print head and sensors. FIG. 3 is a viewillustrating a positional deviation in a width direction due to a skew.To facilitate understanding of the invention, the following descriptionwill be made taking for example only two print heads 19, i.e. the printhead 19 a and second print head 19 b.

When no skew occurs to the web paper WP, the side end of the web paperWP moves along a reference line RL (Y-axis) on the transport path.However, when a skew occurs to the web paper WP, the web paper WP hasits side end surface move along a skew line GL inclined from thereference line RL in a direction perpendicular to the transportdirection, for example. Assume here that an X-axis is a line extendingperpendicular to the transport direction and longitudinally of the mostupstream print head 19 a. This X-axis is perpendicular to the Y-axis ina level plane.

Description will be made here, by way of example, about the case where adeviation amount at the second print head 19 b (corresponding to the“target print head”) relative to the print head 19 a (corresponding tothe “reference print head”) is MD. This deviation amount MD represents acase, for example, where a reference image FG1 is printed by the printhead 19 a, and a target image FG2 is printed by the second print head 19b downstream thereof, these images being print data overlapping eachother in the same position unless there occurs a skew, but the targetimage FG2 is printed as deviating from the reference image FG1 accordingto an amount of skew in the direction perpendicular to the transportdirection. At this time, the deviation amount in the directionperpendicular to the transport direction of the target image FG2relative to the reference image FG1 is MD as shown in FIG. 3.

This deviation amount MD is calculated by the deviation amountcalculating unit 33 noted hereinbefore based, for example, on thepositional relationships between the first sensor 23 and second sensor25 and between the print head 19 a and print head 19 b. When thisdeviation amount MD is divisible by the predetermined interval L, orwhen the deviation amount MD is an integral multiple of thepredetermined interval L, or in other words, when the deviation amountMD is divided by the predetermined interval L without leaving aremainder, the positional deviation interpolation image converter 35does not convert the print data into a positional deviationinterpolation image, but creates a positional deviation image byshifting the print data in the direction of the skew in units of theinkjet nozzles 20 (pixel-by-pixel unit which is the recording limit)according to the deviation amount MD. When, on the other hand, thedeviation amount MD is indivisible by the predetermined interval L, orwhen the deviation amount MD is not an integral multiple of thepredetermined interval L, or in other words, when the deviation amountMD is divided by the predetermined interval L but leaves a remainder,the positional deviation interpolation image converter 35 converts theprint data into a positional deviation interpolation image shifted inthe direction of the skew by applying a weighting according to theremainder as described hereinafter. However, even when the aboveremainder is not produced, the positional deviation interpolation imageconverter 35 converts an image adjacent an image having a remainderbetween deviation amount MD and predetermined interval L into apositional deviation interpolation image shifted in the direction of theskew by means of a smaller weighting than the above weighting.

A printing operation by the above inkjet printing apparatus 3 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a printingprocess.

Step S1

The controller 27 receives print data from the external computer.

Step S2 (Recording Position Acquiring Process)

The recording position acquirer 31 acquires recording positions of areference image and a target image which are printed by the print head19 a and print head 19 b based on the print data.

Step S3 (Position Deviation Amount Calculating Process)

The positional deviation calculator 33, based on the output signals ofthe first sensor 23 and second sensor 25, calculates a deviation amountMD of the recording positions of the image data printed by the printhead 19 a and print head 19 b.

Step S4

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35 branches theprocess by whether there is any remainder between the deviation amountMD and predetermined interval L. When there is a remainder, the processbranches to step S5. When there is no remainder, the process branches tostep S6.

Step S5 (Positional Deviation Interpolation Image Conversion Process)

When there is a remainder, the positional deviation interpolation imageconverter 35 cannot appropriately make a correction even by shifting inunits of inkjet nozzles 20, i.e. pixel by pixel. So, the positionaldeviation interpolation image converter 35 converts the target imageprinted by the print head 19 b into a positional deviation interpolationimage, for example, by performing an interpolation process with aweighting based on the deviation amount MD (details describedhereinafter).

Step S6

The process is branched by whether the image adjoins an image with aremainder between the deviation amount MD and predetermined interval L.Specifically, when the image does not adjoin the latter image, theprocess branches to step S7, and when it does, the process branches tostep S8.

Step S7

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35 creates apositional deviation image by shifting the target image printed by theprint head 19 b in units of the inkjet nozzles 20.

Step S8

When the target image adjoins an image with a remainder, the positionaldeviation interpolation image converter 35 converts it into a positionaldeviation interpolation image through an interpolation process with aweighting smaller than the weighting in step S5 (details describedhereinafter).

Step S9

The halftone dot processor 39 performs a halftone dot process on thereference image and target image (positional deviation interpolationimage or positional deviation image).

Step S10

The controller 27 causes the printing unit 13 to print the referenceimage and target image having undergone the halftone dot process.

The weighting process and small weighting process noted above will nowbe described with reference to FIGS. 5-8. FIG. 5 is a schematic viewillustrating a weighting process with a Sinc function. FIGS. 6 and 7 areschematic views showing specific examples of weighting process with theSinc function. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an image based on realdata and a converted positional deviation interpolation image.

The positional deviation image converter 35, when there is a remainderbetween the deviation amount MD and predetermined interval L, asdescribed above, converts the target image FG2 of the print data into apositional deviation interpolation image, for example. The target imageFG2 has real data at every predetermined interval L. Weightingcoefficients CT are cubic Sinc functions, for example. These Sincfunctions, as having a finite length with a window whose minimum isminus and maximum is 1, are stored beforehand in a lookup table form inthe weighting coefficient storage unit 37. Preferably, a weightingcoefficient CT is determined and stored for each remainder. Here, aninterval between pixels is divided into eight parts as a predeterminednumber of divisions, for example, and the weighting coefficient CT isstored for a remainder corresponding to each 1/8 unit of thepredetermined interval L.

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35, with respectto the target image FG2 which is the image to be shifted, and withrespect to pixel values of a range corresponding to the pixel values ofone pixel and four adjacent pixels, applies the weighting coefficient CTto a position shifted by the remainder and further by a position of aminimum unit of the predetermined number of divisions from the one pixelvalue of the target image. This corresponds to the “weighting”.Specifically, when the remainder is 1/4 as shown in FIG. 6, theweighting coefficient CT is applied to the position of 3/8 which isshifted 1/8 in the direction of deviation amount from 1/4. When theremainder is 1/2 as shown in FIG. 7, the weighting coefficient CT isapplied to a position of 5/8 which is shifted by 1/8 in the direction ofdeviation amount 1/2. Similarly, when the remainder is 3/4, although notshown, the weighting coefficient CT is applied to a position of 7/8which is shifted by 1/8 in the direction of deviation amount from 3/4.

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35, when an imageessentially not shifted adjoins an image to be shifted, applies theweighting coefficient CT to a position shifted by a position of aminimum unit of the predetermined number of divisions from the one pixelvalue of the target image. This corresponds to the “small weighting”.That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the weighting coefficient CT is applied toa position shifted by 1/8 in the direction of deviation amount from 0.

As in the following equation, by calculating a sum of products of pixelsP(i): P1-P4 of the target image FG2 and the shifted Sinc function inagreement regarding position, for example, the pixel value of theposition of pixel P2+1/4+1/8 can be interpolated as Q(i): Q1-Q4.

$\begin{matrix}{{Q(i)} = {\sum{\left( {I = {- {\left. 1 \right.\sim 2}}} \right)\mspace{14mu} {P(i)} \times {{{Sin}c}(i)}}}} \\{= {{P\; 1 \times {Sin}\; c\; 1} + {P\; 2 \times {Sin}\; c\; 2} + {P\; 3 \times {Sin}\; c\; 3} + {P\; 4 \times {Sin}\; c\; 4}}}\end{matrix}$

In this way, the target image FG2 is converted into a positionaldeviation interpolation image tFG2 (FIG. 8). This can cope with the casewhere the deviation amount MD is not an integral multiple of thepredetermined interval L but has shifts of 1/4, 2/4 and 3/4 of thepredetermined interval L. Therefore, apparent positional deviations canfully be inhibited whatever the amount of skew. Moreover, since the 1/8weighting is carried out including the case of an image not to beshifted but adjoining an image to be shifted, boundaries are madeinconspicuous as described hereinafter, and a lowering of print qualitycan be inhibited even when a positional deviation interpolation image isused.

However, since the inkjet nozzles 20 have larger predetermined intervalsL than the minimum unit 1/8 of the predetermined number of divisionsbetween the pixels, the positional deviation interpolation image tFG2 asit is cannot be printed appropriately. So, the following process isperformed by the halftone dot processor 39. Since it is difficult todepict variations of minute pixel values including the shifts of 1/8unit, the following halftone dot process will be described taking thecase of interpolation by 1/4 unit for example.

Reference is made to FIGS. 9 and 10. To facilitate understanding of theinvention, description will be made on the assumption that the deviationamount MD is 1/2 here. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a halftone dotprocess performed on a real data image. FIG. 10A is a schematic viewshowing the real data image and an image after the halftone dot process.FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing a positional deviationinterpolation image resulting from a one-dot shifting of the real dataimage and an image after the halftone dot process. FIG. 10C is aschematic view showing a positional deviation interpolation imageresulting from a half-dot shifting of the real data image and an imageafter the halftone dot process. It is assumed in this embodiment thatthe print heads 19 dispense three types of ink droplets, i.e. largedroplets, medium droplets smaller than the large droplets, and smalldroplets smaller than the medium droplets.

Assume that FIG. 9 shows large droplet size halftone data, mediumdroplet size halftone data, small droplet size halftone data and thepixel values of real data (of the target image FG2 here). Of the varioushalftone data, the large droplet size halftone data is given priority inprocessing. In this case, of the pixel values in the real data of thetarget image FG2, the large droplets are applied to the pixels largerthan the numerical value of the large droplet size halftone data. Next,processing is done in the order of medium droplet size halftone data andthe small droplet size halftone data. Then, a half-toned target imagehFG2 is created.

FIG. 10 shows arrangements of the various real data and the data afterthe halftone dot process. FIG. 10A shows the target image FG2 and thetarget image hFG2 after the halftone dot process. FIG. 10B shows atarget image FG2 a which does not adjoin an image without a remainderbut is shifted by one dot, and a target image hFG2 a after the halftonedot process. FIG. 10C shows the positional deviation interpolation imagetFG2 of the target image FG2 shifted by 1/2 dot, and a positionaldeviation interpolation image htFG2 after the halftone dot process.

It is seen that the target image FG2 a (FIG. 10B) shifted by one dot isgreatly shifted to the right relative to the target image hFG2 (FIG.10A) after the halftone dot process, whose position is not shifted. Itis seen that the target image htFG2 (FIG. 10C) after the halftone dotprocess shifted by 1/2 dot has sensuously obtained a shift intermediatebetween the target image hFG2 (FIG. 10A) after the halftone dot process,whose position is not shifted, and the target image FG2 a (FIG. 10B)shifted by one dot.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a schematic view ofpositional deviation interpolation images, in which FIG. 11A shows thisembodiment, and FIG. 11B shows a reference example. The referenceexample is taken from Japanese patent application No. 2014-183480 in thename of Applicant herein. This reference example carries out a weightingaccording to a remainder between a deviation amount and predeterminedinterval L as does this embodiment, but does not carry out a smallweighting for an image without a remainder which adjoins an image with aremainder. In the weighting, it is only the weighting according to theremainder, and a weight increase corresponding to the small weighting isnot carried out. It is seen therefore that this embodiment (FIG. 11A) isnotably different from the reference example (FIG. 11B) in thatweighting is added, also in 0 and 1, to the pixel values in thedirection of deviation amount.

Reference is made to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows examples of printing result,in which FIG. 12A shows this embodiment, and FIG. 12B shows a referenceexample.

In the case of this embodiment (FIG. 12A), the pixel values changesmoothly across the boundaries between 1/4 and 3/4 with remainders and 0and 1 adjacent thereto and without remainders. Therefore, the boundariesare inconspicuous. In the case of the reference example (FIG. 12B), onthe other hand, the difference in pixel value is conspicuous across theboundaries between 1/4 and 3/4 with remainders and 0 and 1 adjacentthereto and without remainders. Therefore, the boundaries areconspicuous. It is seen therefore that, in this embodiment, a loweringof print quality can be inhibited even when a positional deviationinterpolation image is used.

Reference is made to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is graphs showing variations ofpixel values in images of no-shift real data and in images of variousshift amounts, in which FIG. 13A shows this embodiment, FIG. 13B showsan example of exponential function, and FIG. 13C shows a referenceexample.

It is seen from these graphs that, in this embodiment (FIG. 13A), thereoccurs a reduced difference in pixel value between shift 3/8(corresponding to shift 1/4 in FIG. 13C) which produces a positionaldeviation interpolation image based on a remainder, and adjoining shift1/8 (corresponding to shift 0/4 in FIG. 13C) which produces a positionaldeviation interpolation image with a small weighting. In the referenceexample (FIG. 13C), on the other hand, the difference in pixel valuetherebetween them is large, which confirms that the above boundarydifference in FIG. 12B is conspicuous.

In the foregoing embodiment the weighting coefficient CT is Sincfunction, but an exponential function may be employed instead. Referenceis now made to FIGS. 14-16. FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating aweighting process with an exponential function. FIGS. 15 and 16 areschematic views showing specific examples of weighting process with theexponential function.

The exponential function is a general-purpose gauss window function asshown in FIG. 14, for example, and μ=0 and σ=0.5 are used. Exponentialfunctions, as having a finite length with a window whose minimum is 0and maximum is less than 1, are stored beforehand in a lookup table formin the weighting coefficient storage unit 37. Preferably, a weightingcoefficient CT is determined and stored for each remainder, as in thecase of Sinc function described hereinbefore.

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35, about thetarget image FG2 which is the image to be shifted, and about pixelvalues of a range corresponding to the pixel values of one pixel andfour adjacent pixels, applies the weighting coefficient CT to theposition of one pixel value of the target image. This corresponds to the“weighting”. Specifically, when the remainder is 1/4 as shown in FIG.15, the weighting coefficient CT is applied as it is to the position of1/4. When the remainder is 1/2 as shown in FIG. 16, the weightingcoefficient CT is applied as it is to the position of 1/2. Similarly,when the remainder is 3/4, although not shown, the weighting coefficientCT is applied to the position of 3/4.

The positional deviation interpolation image converter 35, when an imageessentially not shifted adjoins an image to be shifted, applies theweighting coefficient CT to the position of one pixel of the targetimage. This corresponds to the “small weighting”. That is, as shown inFIG. 14, the weighting coefficient CT is applied to the position of 0.This is because the fact that the coefficient of the exponentialfunction is less than one at maximum makes it unnecessary to make ashift by the position of the minimum unit of the number of divisions asdone in the case of Sinc function described hereinbefore.

It is seen that, when this exponential function is used, as shown inFIG. 13B, there occurs a reduced difference in pixel value between shift1/4 which produces a positional deviation interpolation image based on aremainder, and adjoining shift 0/4 which produces a positional deviationinterpolation image with a small weighting.

Further, the weighting coefficient CT may be obtained by bicubic method.Reference is made to FIG. 17.

The bicubic method uses an operational expression as shown in FIG. 17,for example. These functions, as having a finite length with a windowwhose minimum is minus and maximum is 1, are stored beforehand in alookup table form in the weighting coefficient storage unit 37. In thiscase, the weighting and small weighting may be carried out by the sametechnique as in the case of Sinc function described hereinbefore.

Reference is now made to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing anexample of printing real data consisting of four plates of CMYK. It isassumed here that the data includes a C plate providing a pattern of afish, CO and R, an M plate providing a pattern of the fish and LO, a Yplate providing a pattern of the fish and R, and a K plate providing apattern of the fish, Fish and a QR code (registered trademark).

Preferably, the above printing process is applied to the print dataconsisting of the four CMYK plates as follows.

When the print data consists of CMYK, the image processing unit 29extracts a line drawing area in each plate. And even when the linedrawing area has a remainder between the deviation amount MD andpredetermined interval L, the positional deviation interpolation imageconverter 35 does not create a positional deviation interpolation image.The line drawing area refers to characters such as “COLOR Fish” andcodes such as the QR code (registered trademark) in FIG. 18, forexample.

A specific flow of the printing process is as shown in FIG. 19. FIG. 19is a flow chart showing an example of printing real data including linedrawing areas.

A rough flow of the process is similar to that of FIG. 4 describedhereinbefore. The difference lies in step S4 a and step S6 a whichdetermine presence or absence of a line drawing area. When a linedrawing area is found in these steps S4 a and S6 a, only conversion to apositional deviation correction image in units of the nozzles is carriedout whether there is a remainder in the amount of deviation or whetherthe image adjoins an image having a remainder in the amount ofdeviation.

By not converting such a line drawing area to a positional deviationinterpolation image as an exceptional measure, it can prevent a blurringof outlines and becoming indistinct as line drawing due to theconversion to a positional deviation interpolation image. The linedrawings can therefore be recognized reliably.

A positional deviation in the direction perpendicular to the transportdirection of web paper WP is corrected in the foregoing embodiment. Thisinvention is applicable also to a positional deviation in the transportdirection. Reference is now made to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a viewillustrating a positional deviation in the transport direction due tothe rotary encoder.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 3 does printing whiletransporting the web paper WP with the drive rollers 7 and 11. Forexample, the controller 27 controls rotation of the drive rollers 7 and11 to attain a transporting speed of printing conditions. The controller27 controls dispensation timing of ink droplets from each of the printheads 19 a-19 d based on the pulse signal from the rotary encoder 12connected to the transport roller 9 disposed downstream of the driveroller 7 and upstream of the print head 19 a, and the positionalrelationship of the print heads 19 a-19 d.

Incidentally, depending on the construction of the inkjet printingsystem, the transport roller 9 of the inkjet printing apparatus 3 maytransport the web paper WP having undergone a drying process after beingprinted. Then, the transport roller 9 expands with the heat of the webpaper WP to have an elongated circumference. Therefore, even if thetransporting speed is constant, the pulse intervals outputted from therotary encoder 12 will become long. The controller 27 thereforedetermines that the transporting speed has changed, and changes thedispensation timing of ink droplets from the print heads 19 a-19 d.Thus, the dispensation timing becomes inappropriate and causes apositional deviation in the transport direction.

Reference is now made to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a view illustrating apositional deviation in the transport direction due to the rotaryencoder.

When, for example, the pulse intervals of the rotary encoder 12 becomelong due to expansion of the transport roller 9, the controller 27determines that the web paper WP is transported behind time. Thecontroller 27 delays the timing, for example, when the target image FG2is printed by the print head 19 b after the reference image FG1 isprinted by the print head 19 a. Then, since the transporting speed ofthe web paper WP is actually constant, the target image FG2 will beshifted by the deviation amount MD in the transport direction relativeto the reference image FG1.

Even when such deviation amount MD occurs in the transport direction,the positional deviation amount calculating unit 33 calculates adeviation amount of the recording position of each image based on thevariations in the pulse intervals of the rotary encoder 12. By carryingout the printing process described hereinafter according to theremainder between the calculated deviation amount MD and predeterminedinterval L in the transport direction of the inkjet nozzles 20, apparentpositional deviations can fully be inhibited whatever the amount ofdeviation in the transport direction.

Specifically, the printing process may be carried out as shown in FIG.21. FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing a printing process based on anamount of deviation in the transport direction.

A rough flow of the process is similar to that of FIG. 4 describedhereinbefore. The difference lies in step S3 a which calculates anamount of deviation in the transport direction. In this step S3 a anamount of deviation in the transport direction is calculated which isdue to variations in the pulse signal of the rotary encoder 29. Andaccording to a remainder between this deviation amount and thepredetermined interval in the transport direction of the inkjet nozzles20, conversion is made into a positional deviation interpolation imageor into a positional deviation image shifted in units of the nozzles.Even if there is no remainder, when the image adjoins an image with aremainder, it is the same as the process described hereinbefore tocreate a positional deviation interpolation image.

By carrying out the printing process in this way, apparent positionaldeviations can fully be inhibited whatever the amount of deviation inthe transport direction. Of the images with no remainder whichessentially do not need to be shifted, an image adjoining an image towhich a weighting has been applied is converted into a positionaldeviation interpolation image with a small weighting. Consequently,boundaries are made inconspicuous, and a lowering of print quality canbe inhibited even when the positional deviation interpolation image isused.

This invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, but may bemodified as follows:

(1) In the foregoing embodiment, the target image FG2 is converted intoa positional deviation interpolation image tFG2. However, the referenceimage FG1 may be made a positional deviation interpolation image tFG1 byshifting it to an opposite side to the direction of deviation amount MD.

(2) In the foregoing embodiment, the cubic Sinc function, exponentialfunction, and bicubic method are used at the time of conversion into apositional deviation interpolation image, but this invention is notlimited to these interpolating techniques.

(3) In the foregoing embodiment, when carrying out weighting, theprocess is performed for a range corresponding to one pixel value andfour adjacent pixel values of the image to be shifted. This invention isnot limited to this range. For example, if a load at the time ofprocessing does not become a problem, the process may be performed for arange corresponding to five or more pixel values.

(4) The foregoing embodiment has been described taking the inkjetprinting apparatus 3 for example. This invention is applicable also toprinting apparatus of other printing modes having printing headsarranged as spaced from one another in the transport direction.

(5) In the foregoing embodiment, the web paper WP has been taken as anexample of printing medium of the inkjet printing apparatus 3. Thisinvention is not limited to the web paper WP as the printing medium, butis also applicable where the medium is film, for example.

This invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly,reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to theforegoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus for a printingapparatus for printing on a printing medium with a printing unitincluding at least two print heads consisting of a reference print headfor providing a reference for printing, and a target print head disposedas spaced from the reference print head in a transport direction forprinting in accordance with printing by the reference print head, eachprint head having a plurality of recording elements arranged atpredetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the transportdirection of the printing medium, the image processing apparatuscomprising: a recording position acquiring device for acquiringrecording positions of a reference image printed by the reference printhead and a target image printed by the target print head; a positionaldeviation amount calculating device for calculating a deviation amountdue to a skew of the printing medium with respect to the recordingpositions of the reference image and the target image acquired by therecording position acquiring device; and a positional deviationinterpolation image converting device, when there is a remainder of thedeviation amount and the predetermined intervals, for adding a weightbased on the remainder to the reference image or the target image, andadding a smaller weight than said weight to the reference image or thetarget image without a remainder and adjoining the reference image orthe target image with the remainder, thereby converting the image into awidth direction positional deviation interpolation image shiftedaccording to the skew of the printing medium.
 2. An image processingapparatus for a printing apparatus for printing on a printing mediumwith a printing unit including at least two print heads consisting of areference print head for providing a reference for printing, and atarget print head disposed as spaced from the reference print head in atransport direction for printing in accordance with printing by thereference print head, each print head having a plurality of recordingelements arranged at predetermined intervals in a directionperpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium and inthe transport direction of the printing medium, the image processingapparatus comprising: a pulse signal outputting device for outputting apulse signal according to rotation of a transport roller rotatable withmovement of the recording medium; a recording position acquiring devicefor acquiring recording positions of a reference image printed by thereference print head and a target image printed by the target printhead; a positional deviation amount calculating device for calculating adeviation amount in the transport direction due to a variation of thepulse signal detected by the pulse signal outputting device with respectto the recording positions of the reference image and the target imageacquired by the recording position acquiring device; and a positionaldeviation interpolation image converting device, when there is aremainder of the deviation amount and the predetermined intervals in thetransport direction, for adding a weight based on the remainder to thereference image or the target image, and adding a smaller weight thansaid weight to the reference image or the target image without aremainder and adjoining the reference image or the target image with theremainder, thereby converting the image into a positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the variation of the pulsesignal.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe positional deviation interpolation image converting device uses aSinc window function whose minimum value is minus and maximum value is 1in an interval including a predetermined number of pixels of thereference image or the target image, divides an interval between thepixels of the reference image or the target image by a predeterminednumber of divisions, and adds the weight and the small weight afterfurther shifting a center of the Sinc window function by a position of aminimum unit of the number of divisions from a position corresponding tothe remainder.
 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the positional deviation interpolation image converting deviceuses a Sinc window function whose minimum value is minus and maximumvalue is 1 in an interval including a predetermined number of pixels ofthe reference image or the target image, divides an interval between thepixels of the reference image or the target image by a predeterminednumber of divisions, and adds the weight and the small weight afterfurther shifting a center of the Sinc window function by a position of aminimum unit of the number of divisions from a position corresponding tothe remainder.
 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the positional deviation interpolation image converting deviceuses an exponential window function whose minimum value is 0 and maximumvalue is less than 1 in an interval including a predetermined number ofpixels of the reference image or the target image, divides an intervalbetween the pixels of the reference image or the target image by apredetermined number of divisions, and adds the weight and the smallweight after placing a center of the exponential window function in aposition corresponding to the remainder.
 6. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device uses an exponential windowfunction whose minimum value is 0 and maximum value is less than 1 in aninterval including a predetermined number of pixels of the referenceimage or the target image, divides an interval between the pixels of thereference image or the target image by a predetermined number ofdivisions, and adds the weight and the small weight after placing acenter of the exponential window function in a position corresponding tothe remainder.
 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a halftone dot processing device for carrying out ahalftone dot process according to shift amounts on the positionaldeviation interpolation image when outputting the positional deviationinterpolation image to the printing unit.
 8. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a halftone dotprocessing device for carrying out a halftone dot process according toshift amounts on the positional deviation interpolation image whenoutputting the positional deviation interpolation image to the printingunit.
 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising a halftone dot processing device for carrying out a halftonedot process according to shift amounts on the positional deviationinterpolation image when outputting the positional deviationinterpolation image to the printing unit.
 10. The image processingapparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a halftone dotprocessing device for carrying out a halftone dot process according toshift amounts on the positional deviation interpolation image whenoutputting the positional deviation interpolation image to the printingunit.
 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, furthercomprising a halftone dot processing device for carrying out a halftonedot process according to shift amounts on the positional deviationinterpolation image when outputting the positional deviationinterpolation image to the printing unit.
 12. The image processingapparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a halftone dotprocessing device for carrying out a halftone dot process according toshift amounts on the positional deviation interpolation image whenoutputting the positional deviation interpolation image to the printingunit.
 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe positional deviation interpolation image converting device does notconvert line drawing areas of the reference image and the target imageinto positional deviation interpolation images.
 14. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device does not convert line drawingareas of the reference image and the target image into positionaldeviation interpolation images.
 15. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the positional deviation interpolationimage converting device does not convert line drawing areas of thereference image and the target image into positional deviationinterpolation images.
 16. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the positional deviation interpolation image convertingdevice does not convert line drawing areas of the reference image andthe target image into positional deviation interpolation images.
 17. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the positionaldeviation interpolation image converting device does not convert linedrawing areas of the reference image and the target image intopositional deviation interpolation images.
 18. The image processingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the positional deviationinterpolation image converting device does not convert line drawingareas of the reference image and the target image into positionaldeviation interpolation images.
 19. An image processing method for aprinting apparatus for printing on a printing medium with a printingunit including at least two print heads consisting of a reference printhead for providing a reference for printing, and a target print headdisposed as spaced from the reference print head in a transportdirection for printing in accordance with printing by the referenceprint head, each print head having a plurality of recording elementsarranged at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to thetransport direction of the printing medium, the method comprising: arecording position acquiring step for acquiring recording positions of areference image printed by the reference print head and a target imageprinted by the target print head; a positional deviation amountcalculating step for calculating a deviation amount due to a skew of theprinting medium with respect to the recording positions of the referenceimage and the target image acquired in the recording position acquiringstep; and a positional deviation interpolation image converting step,when there is a remainder of the deviation amount and the predeterminedintervals, for adding a weight based on the remainder to the referenceimage or the target image, and adding a smaller weight than said weightto the reference image or the target image without a remainder andadjoining the reference image or the target image with the remainder,thereby converting the image into a width direction positional deviationinterpolation image shifted according to the skew of the printingmedium.
 20. An image processing method for a printing apparatus forprinting on a printing medium with a printing unit including at leasttwo print heads consisting of a reference print head for providing areference for printing, and a target print head disposed as spaced fromthe reference print head in a transport direction for printing inaccordance with printing by the reference print head, each print headhaving a plurality of recording elements arranged at predeterminedintervals in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of theprinting medium and in the transport direction of the printing medium,the method comprising: a pulse signal detecting step for detecting apulse signal according to rotation of a transport roller rotatable withmovement of the recording medium; a recording position acquiring stepfor acquiring recording positions of a reference image printed by thereference print head and a target image printed by the target printhead; a positional deviation amount calculating step for calculating adeviation amount due to a variation of the pulse signal detected in thepulse signal detecting step with respect to the recording positions ofthe reference image and the target image acquired in the recordingposition acquiring step; and a positional deviation interpolation imageconverting step, when there is a remainder of the deviation amount andthe predetermined intervals in the transport direction, for adding aweight based on the remainder to the reference image or the targetimage, and adding a smaller weight than said weight to the referenceimage or the target image without a remainder and adjoining thereference image or the target image with the remainder, therebyconverting the image into a positional deviation interpolation imageshifted according to the variation of the pulse signal.